There is a surprisingly high number of people who are volunteering for various events and social gatherings. And while it’s hard to volunteer with such busy lives, people still do it regardless. There are many benefits to volunteering, and in this article, we will tell you all about them.
Source: Geelong Grammar School
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1. It connects you to people
The first benefit of volunteer work is that you will most likely work with other people like you who are open-minded and not afraid to talk to new people. In short terms, volunteering connects you to people in so many ways. Volunteering has a huge impact on the community, with people offering a helping hand without getting paid. They offer their help for free, and even the slightest of help can make a real difference.
Since sharing an activity with someone else is the best way to get to know them and make new friends, many people volunteer just for that. This is especially the case for new people in the community.
2. It helps your mind and body
Studies have shown that volunteering helps counter stress, anger, and even anxiety because of meeting new people. The ability to work with someone new has a profound effect on your psychological health. Your mind can be relieved of stress, anxiety, and anger by connecting to people, and some volunteering gigs even involve pets.
Furthermore, volunteer work helps battle depression. Since volunteer opportunities are not that hard to come by, many people volunteer to stay in touch with people. And the number one cure for depression is human contact.
Source: Washington State PTA
3. It can help your career
One of the many things that volunteer work offers is the experience. If you are considering a career change, then consider volunteering in that field of work. Even if you don’t plan on changing careers, volunteer work can help you learn new skills and upgrade your existing ones. It offers a unique opportunity to learn something new, something out of the ordinary, and something that will serve you no matter where you go. Volunteer work helps you with your people skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, project planning skills, task management skills, and organization skills. And if you don’t know this, these are all pretty much-needed skills wherever you work.
4. It offers something fun and meaningful
If you are young but not quite passionate about a certain thing, then volunteer work might help you discover what you want to do in the future. Since there are a host of skills you can learn by volunteering, maybe you can find your dream career by exploring the world of volunteering. Furthermore, volunteer work is always fun because of the nature of it. Since you will be working for free, there won’t be that much pressure on you, and you can relax when not needed. Volunteering is a great way to escape your day-to-day life and to explore something new and meaningful.
Source: Europa EU
You might now know this, but many people volunteer as a way to exercise their hobbies. Escaping from your office day job and transitioning to an event in your local park can be seen as a great way to boost morale and get in touch with people.
If you’d like to travel the world but don’t have the budget for it, volunteering may be the right answer!
First, there are online platforms like HelpStay, that help volunteers passionate about traveling get in touch with people who need help from all over the world. In this case, you get to choose where you want to go and how to win your stay (usually by helping out with physical work or by participating in educational projects).
Second, there are many organizations worldwide that look for volunteers willing to travel and share their message or help rebuild affected areas. This way, you have the wonderful opportunity of going on all sorts of trips and make a difference for the communities you meet.
Not to mention that, by volunteering, you get in touch with the locals and get to know the local culture a lot better than you would by simply being a tourist.
